Rode a ZX12, CBR1000... next a ZX10 and a Busa
Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:44 pm
Wasn't feeling up to work today, but after a while I felt a little better so I decided to go out for a look at a few bike shops as I'm toying with trading up from the VTR (before anyone says it's too soon... I've done over 12,000km on it already).
Firstly let me start by saying that I will not be buying an R1. They weren't particularly high on my list anyway but I wanted to ride one to see if it was a genuine option I had discounted unfairly. Being quite honest and up-front with the sales guy I said I wasn't looking to buy a bike on-the-spot but was instead trying to narrow down my list of possibles and wanted to see if the R1 fit the bill.
As soon as he heard he couldn't sell me a bike on-the-spot the discussion was over, but he said very kindly that when I was ready to buy he was happy to talk numbers and then let me ride one. So how is it that I'm supposed to decide what I want, before buying it, if I'm not allowed to ride it? And what makes them think I'll come back and buy a bike off someone that's been so "helpful" in reaching the decision. Thank you, Yamaha, I'll spend my money elsewhere.
Earlier in the day, I had been at a Honda dealer and spotted a few bikes that took my interest (and many, many more that didn't!). The short list came down to the FZ1, ZX12R and the CBR1000. The FZ1 was cut from the list as it is a little bit 'old man' and is also due for a major update shortly which means the arse will fall out of the prices soon enough.... and I'd rather not be on any such boat when it sinks.
The sales guy was very helpful and did not pressure me unnecessarily (despite an overuse of my name once every 30 seconds), and with all truth told I was shortly out for a ride on the ZX12R with him leading on the CBR1000.
Ho-ly shit. The ZX12R is great, and what a doddle to ride! It's lazy, light, steers quick and is well behaved. In short, it's the complete opposite of the 'bad boy' feedback received from my lightly-fettled VTR. Possibly my two biggest complaints are the seat height (more a combination of seat height and a wide bike meaning that at 5'7" I was tiptoeing a little) and the fact that it feels slow. The only real indication that it's accelerating at all would be the rocketing speedo needle and the ever-so-slight lightening of the front wheel. I could absolutely live with one of these things and it's by no means the demon I was imagining. The brakes were great (late model with radial mounts) too, and the suspension brilliant for someone of my weight with a bit of extra adjustment left just in case.
So, we finished the loop back to the shop and swapped bikes. The CBR is much-maligned for being the most 'pedestrian' bike in the ultra-uber-super-duper-mega-psychobike category but I must say I really enjoyed it and it would be a great step up for anyone coming from a 600. To say that it shits all over the 636 in every aspect is a complete understatement, with heaps of urge down low and good acceleration in the top end... though as with the 636 the tight short bars meant that any natural agility was masked through the extra effort needed to get it to turn (compared to the ZX12 which was far more willing).
Probably my biggest disappointment is that neither bike was anywhere near the 'arm pulling' sensation I'd expected, although perhaps with some up-close scenery or other reference point (perhaps a slow moving 636?) the feeling of speed might be more impressive. The ZX10R & Hayabusa are next on my 'test ride' list but I've had difficulty finding one where the dealer will let me ride it without all but signing my life away.
Firstly let me start by saying that I will not be buying an R1. They weren't particularly high on my list anyway but I wanted to ride one to see if it was a genuine option I had discounted unfairly. Being quite honest and up-front with the sales guy I said I wasn't looking to buy a bike on-the-spot but was instead trying to narrow down my list of possibles and wanted to see if the R1 fit the bill.
As soon as he heard he couldn't sell me a bike on-the-spot the discussion was over, but he said very kindly that when I was ready to buy he was happy to talk numbers and then let me ride one. So how is it that I'm supposed to decide what I want, before buying it, if I'm not allowed to ride it? And what makes them think I'll come back and buy a bike off someone that's been so "helpful" in reaching the decision. Thank you, Yamaha, I'll spend my money elsewhere.
Earlier in the day, I had been at a Honda dealer and spotted a few bikes that took my interest (and many, many more that didn't!). The short list came down to the FZ1, ZX12R and the CBR1000. The FZ1 was cut from the list as it is a little bit 'old man' and is also due for a major update shortly which means the arse will fall out of the prices soon enough.... and I'd rather not be on any such boat when it sinks.
The sales guy was very helpful and did not pressure me unnecessarily (despite an overuse of my name once every 30 seconds), and with all truth told I was shortly out for a ride on the ZX12R with him leading on the CBR1000.
Ho-ly shit. The ZX12R is great, and what a doddle to ride! It's lazy, light, steers quick and is well behaved. In short, it's the complete opposite of the 'bad boy' feedback received from my lightly-fettled VTR. Possibly my two biggest complaints are the seat height (more a combination of seat height and a wide bike meaning that at 5'7" I was tiptoeing a little) and the fact that it feels slow. The only real indication that it's accelerating at all would be the rocketing speedo needle and the ever-so-slight lightening of the front wheel. I could absolutely live with one of these things and it's by no means the demon I was imagining. The brakes were great (late model with radial mounts) too, and the suspension brilliant for someone of my weight with a bit of extra adjustment left just in case.
So, we finished the loop back to the shop and swapped bikes. The CBR is much-maligned for being the most 'pedestrian' bike in the ultra-uber-super-duper-mega-psychobike category but I must say I really enjoyed it and it would be a great step up for anyone coming from a 600. To say that it shits all over the 636 in every aspect is a complete understatement, with heaps of urge down low and good acceleration in the top end... though as with the 636 the tight short bars meant that any natural agility was masked through the extra effort needed to get it to turn (compared to the ZX12 which was far more willing).
Probably my biggest disappointment is that neither bike was anywhere near the 'arm pulling' sensation I'd expected, although perhaps with some up-close scenery or other reference point (perhaps a slow moving 636?) the feeling of speed might be more impressive. The ZX10R & Hayabusa are next on my 'test ride' list but I've had difficulty finding one where the dealer will let me ride it without all but signing my life away.
- wanted a *huge* deposit as well..........get fcuked, I put a rocket up the Yamaha Oz site, its a bloody joke really - I guess they are pretty comfortable with sales figures...... 
